Vehicle frame cross members with buckling avoidance features

Abstract

Vehicle frames with buckling avoidance features are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a cross member extending between a first side rail and a second side rail, a battery coupled to the cross member and the second side rail, and a bracket opposite to the battery, the bracket coupled to the first side rail and the cross member at a first location and a second location.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tubular structural member to extend between a first side rail of a vehicle and a second side rail of the vehicle, the tubular structural member including:
 an inner portion having a first resistance to buckling, the inner portion configured to receive a battery of the vehicle; 
 a first outer portion having a second resistance to buckling; and 
 a second outer portion having the second resistance to buckling, the first resistance to buckling greater than the second resistance to buckling. 
 
     
     
       2. The tubular structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer portion is approximately a same length as the second outer portion. 
     
     
       3. The tubular structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer portion is to extend through the first side rail and the second outer portion is to extend through the second side rail. 
     
     
       4. The tubular structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the inner portion includes a first material and the first and second outer portions include a second material with a lower strength than the first material. 
     
     
       5. The tubular structural member of  claim 4 , wherein the first material is a first steel and the second material is a second steel having a different carbon content than the first steel. 
     
     
       6. The tubular structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer portion is configured to be a buckling zone to reduce deformation of the inner portion adjacent to the battery. 
     
     
       7. The tubular structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the inner portion is configured to receive a fuel tank bracket of the vehicle. 
     
     
       8. The tubular structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the inner portion has a first wall thickness and at least one of the first outer portion or the second outer portion has a second wall thickness, the first wall thickness greater than the second wall thickness. 
     
     
       9. The tubular structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer portion is in contact with a first end of the inner portion and the second outer portion is in contact with a second end of the inner portion. 
     
     
       10. A vehicle comprising:
 a first side rail; 
 a second side rail; 
 a cross member extending between the first side rail and the second side rail, the cross member including:
 an inner portion having a first resistance to buckling; 
 a first outer portion having a second resistance to buckling; and 
 a second outer portion having the second resistance to buckling, the first resistance to buckling greater than the second resistance to buckling; and a battery coupled to the inner portion and the first side rail. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the first outer portion is approximately a same length as the second outer portion. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the first outer portion is to extend through the first side rail and the second outer portion is to extend through the second side rail. 
     
     
       13. The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the inner portion includes a first material and the first and second outer portions include a second material with a lower strength than the first material. 
     
     
       14. The vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the first material is a first steel and the second material is a second steel having a different carbon content than the first steel. 
     
     
       15. The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the first outer portion is configured to be a buckling zone to reduce deformation of the inner portion adjacent the battery. 
     
     
       16. The vehicle of  claim 10 , further including:
 a bracket coupled to the inner portion; and 
 a fuel tank abutting the bracket. 
 
     
     
       17. The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the inner portion has a first wall thickness and at least one of the first outer portion or the second outer portion has a second wall thickness, the first wall thickness greater than the second wall thickness. 
     
     
       18. The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the first outer portion is in contact with a first end of the inner portion and the second outer portion is in contact with a second end of the inner portion.